 |
| The future lies in this |
In October 2001,
a task force on integrated transport policy submitted its report to the
planning commission. The report concluded that there is an urgent need to shift
to an integrated transport policy. It also said that emphasis has to shift from
being just a transport service provider to include modern technology and upgrade
the existing systems. However, almost a decade after the report was submitted
India is nowhere close to any such thing called integrated transport. Integration
of transport is an extremely lengthy process and involves many stake holders.
In case of India there are not just stake holders but diverse political
interests as well.
Today most of
the infrastructure projects run independent of other modes of transport or in
competition with each other. India is currently undertaking two ambitious highway
projects, the golden quadrilateral (connecting all four major metros of the
country, i.e. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata with each other) and the North
South – East West corridor. Among these two projects, north western and north
eastern arms of the golden quadrilateral will run parallel to the dedicated
freight corridor (another project in progress). Warehousing, distribution
centres, logistics centres, inland container depots, etc if integrated with
each other can give much needed boost to the economy. With multiple agencies
and lack of coordination this opportunity has been missed so far in India.
The need of the
hour is a strong political will in shape of an integrated transport policy and
a ministry of transport to implement it. Five different ministries with their
own budgets, targets and resources are incapable of suggesting or implementing
a uniform policy. The umbrella ministry should have all four ministries as
departments with policy flowing in from the top. With a common budget, policy
and vision, conceptualising and implementing an integrated transport policy
will be easier than in present circumstances.
The role of a
common transport ministry will not end with the integrated transport policy.
With growing economy and better trade relations with neighbouring countries the
scope of work will expand from national integration to that of the greater
SAARC area. India is already in discussions with Bangladesh to establish first of
its kind transfer corridor from Eastern India to North Eastern India. Such projects
can easily be integrated with inland and maritime routes. Upgrading the railway
infrastructure in North Eastern India and Bangladesh can further integrate the
region and boost the economy.
Immediate gains
can be reaped with help of an integrated transport policy and a well planned
network of logistic centres. Wastage of perishable goods can be minimised and eventually
brought to near zero. Artificial inflation of fruits and vegetables due to poor
supply can be averted with a fast and efficient transport network. Cost of
transportation of non urgent items can be significantly reduced by shifting
them to cheaper modes like inland water ways. Inter port connectivity can
greatly reduce shipping time. The benefits can be reaped, but to do so we need
to engage in destructive construction. Merging four major ministries into one
is a Himalayan task but the rewards are equally fantastic.
